Novel usage of everolimus-eluting coronary stent for intracranial atherosclerotic disease: a technical report and case series

OBJECTIVES: This report describes the use of an Everolimus-eluting stent (Xience Skypoint stent) for the treatment of medically-refractory ICAD. DESIGN: Retrospective, case-series SETTING: In-hospital patients PARTICIPANTS: All patients in this report had a history of stroke secondary to ICAD. All patients failed aggressive medical treatments and had recurrence of symptoms despite anticoagulation or dual-antiplatelet therapy plus a statin. Diagnostic angiogram in each case showed severe vessel stenosis, therefore patients were recommended for intracranial artery stenting. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Technical feasibility of deploying Xience Skypoint stent for treatmet of ICAD. RESULTS: The Xience Skypoint stent was safely and effectively deployed in the vertebral artery (x1) and the internal carotid artery (x2) using trans-ulnar (x1), trans-radial (x1), and trans-femoral (x1) approaches without the use of an intermediate catheter. CONCLUSION: Second-generation EES such as Xience Skypoint may be utilized for treatment of medically-refractory ICAD. This technical report serves as a proof of concept for further studies analysing long-term safety and efficacy of such stents for treatment of ICAD.